Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The Washington Commanders beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday, 18-15, after Jayden Daniels’ last-gasp Hail Mary as time expired was improbably tipped to Noah Brown in the end zone, resulting in a game-winning touchdown.
It was arguably the play of the season thus far, and players from both sides offered their perspectives on how the moment was officiated and played out.
“It’s a Hail Mary, they’re not going to call a holding, they’re not going to call pass interference,” Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson told reporters. “It’s a f–king free play to beat your guy. My energy was on not letting my guy [Terry McLaurin] get to the end zone. Hitting ’em, being physical. Just trying to do what I can to not let my guy catch the ball.”
McLaurin offered a similar take.
“Jaylon Johnson pushed me on the ground,” he told reporters. “When we’re in that situation, it’s really anybody’s ball. It’s a free-for-all down there. Refs aren’t going to call holding. Boxing out. It’s physical.”
In the end, it was actually Chicago’s Tyrique Stevenson who inadvertently tipped the ball to Brown in the scrum. And the rest is history.
“That’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Daniels told reporters.
